He explained on Friday Sport Talk on the Manning River Times’ Facebook page that the Ratz hope to organise a team, along with other LNC sides, to play in a competition similar to the first grade sides. He is confident there will be at least five LNC sides.

Maurirere also supported Wauchope’s return to the Lower North Coast competition, as has been mooted.

The Ratz will finish third after the competition-proper and Maurirere is confident they can challenge the front runners, Forster-Tuncurry and Wallamba, for premiership honours.

Knee reconstruction surgery has sidelined Maurirere, but he hopes to return to the field in 2018.